Family fun · 52 min southeast
Moody Gardens
Galveston attraction with Aquarium, Rainforest and Discovery pyramids, 3D theater, zip line and the new Galveston Children's Museum.
- Full day · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission
Day Trippin' › Texas › From Houston
Day trips from Houston
From Houston, the Museum District and Buffalo Bayou are minutes away, San Jacinto Battleground under half an hour, Space Center Houston about 30 minutes, Kemah Boardwalk under 40, Galveston about 50, and Brazos Bend State Park under an hour. The best day trips from Houston, by drive time.
66 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Houston
- Armand Bayou Nature Center 31 min southeast
- Moody Gardens 52 min southeast
- Bishop's Palace 52 min southeast
- Galveston Island State Park 1 hr 3 min southeast
- Huntsville State Park 1 hr 8 min north
- Big Thicket National Preserve 1 hr 43 min east
- Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge 2 hr east
- Gruene Historic District 2 hr 36 min west
- Schlitterbahn New Braunfels 2 hr 38 min west
- San Antonio River Walk 2 hr 49 min west
Within an hour from Houston 16 spots
Wildlife refuge · 31 min southeast
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Nonprofit preserve in Pasadena with 5 miles of walking trails, a boardwalk loop, a bison viewing platform and kayak and pontoon tours on the bayou.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission (kids 3 and under free)
Historic site · 52 min southeast
Bishop's Palace
An 1892 mansion, also called Gresham House, in Galveston's East End Historic District, with daily self-guided tours.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission (kids 5 and under free)
State park · 53 min west
Stephen F. Austin State Park
Shady park on the Brazos River about 50 minutes west of Houston, with five miles of hiking and biking trails near historic San Felipe.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Theme park · 52 min southeast
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
Waterfront amusement pier in Galveston with rides, midway games, food and shops.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Spring to fall plus select dates (check)
- Admission (ride pass)
Beach · 53 min southeast
Galveston Seawall
Just over 10 miles of sidewalk along Seawall Boulevard with many beach access points, restrooms and showers, Fort Crockett Park and a 70-bench interpretive trail.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free (seawall parking paid)
Scenic drive · 55 min southeast
Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry
Free state car ferry with an 18-minute crossing between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Museum · 52 min southeast
Galveston Railroad Museum
Walk through historic railcars and railroad exhibits, ride a caboose on the Harborside Express or take the holiday Polar Express ride.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission
1 to 2 hours from Houston 12 spots
National park · 1 hr 43 min east
Big Thicket National Preserve
Free national preserve near Kountze spanning nine ecosystems, from longleaf pine forest to cypress-lined bayous, with over 30 miles of trails and paddling routes.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Beach · 1 hr 3 min southeast
Galveston Island State Park
Gulf beach on one side and bay marsh on the other, with about four miles of trails, boardwalks over dunes and marsh, paddling trails and bird blinds.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
State park · 1 hr 8 min north
Huntsville State Park
Pine forest park around 210-acre Lake Raven with a swim area, kayak rentals, 21 miles of hiking and biking trails and access to the Lone Star Hiking Trail.
- Half day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Wildlife refuge · 2 hr east
Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal marsh refuge in Chambers County, formerly Anahuac NWR, with the 2.64-mile paved Shoveler Pond loop and boardwalk for alligators, spoonbills and winter waterfowl.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (best fall and winter)
- Free
Bike trail · 1 hr 49 min west
Park Road 1C (Bastrop to Buescher)
A hilly 12-mile park road through the Lost Pines between Bastrop and Buescher state parks, good for road biking or a slow drive.
- 1-2 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round; cooler months best for biking
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
Museum · 1 hr 17 min east
Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum
Re-created oil boomtown on the Lamar University campus in Beaumont that tells the story of the Spindletop gusher.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission (check)
State park · 1 hr 13 min north
Lake Livingston State Park
Park on Lake Livingston with lake swimming, hiking and mountain biking trails.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
State park · 1 hr 29 min northeast
Village Creek State Park
Forest park where you can paddle the Village Creek Paddling Trail or hike and bike eight miles of trails through sandy uplands and swamps.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Texas State Parks day-use fee (per person; kids 12 and under free)
2 to 3 hours from Houston 36 spots
Town · 2 hr 36 min west
Gruene Historic District
A 15-acre historic district on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, with old township buildings, local shops, food and free live music daily.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to walk around
Theme park · 2 hr 38 min west
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
A big riverside waterpark in New Braunfels with about 45 rivers, rides and slides in four sections, each with a lazy river and kids' area.
- Full day · Easy
- Summer waterpark season (check the calendar)
- Admission
Town · 2 hr 49 min west
San Antonio River Walk
A walkway below street level along the San Antonio River, lined with restaurants, shops and hotels downtown. It runs about 15 miles in all.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to walk; boat cruises cost extra
Historic site · 2 hr 51 min west
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Four Spanish colonial missions on the south side of San Antonio, Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan and Espada. The Espada Aqueduct and Rancho de las Cabras are part of the park too.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Cave · 2 hr 53 min west
Natural Bridge Caverns
Big show cave near New Braunfels named for the natural limestone bridge at its entrance. Two guided cavern tours plus zip lines, a maze and gem mining above ground.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round
- Admission (per tour or activity)
Swimming · 3 hr west
Hamilton Pool Preserve
A swimming hole under a roughly 50-foot waterfall in a box canyon west of Austin. A short, steep, rocky trail leads down to it.
- 2-3 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round; swimming only when water tests allow
- Reservation fee per vehicle plus cash entry fee per adult (kids 12 and under free)
Swimming · 2 hr 32 min west
Barton Springs Pool
A three-acre spring-fed pool in Austin's Zilker Park that stays around 68-70 degrees all year. It is home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission (free until March 2027)
Historic site · 2 hr 48 min west
The Alamo
The famous mission and 1836 battle site (check) in downtown San Antonio. You can walk the grounds and visit Alamo Church.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (closed Christmas Day)
- Free; paid guided tours
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 77002 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.